WELFARE OF MAORI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 7 June 1938, Page 7

WELFARE OF MAORI

THE GOVERNMENTS DESIRE PRIME .MINISTER OPENS LABOUR CONFERENCE t Per Pres. Association. 1 WELLINGTON. June 6. The desire of the Government to help in promoting the legitimate interests of the Maori race was ex- : pressed by the Prime Minister, Hon. M. J. Savage, when officially opening the Maori Labour Conference this afternoon. Mr. Savage staled: "Though there are two races in New Zealand we are but one people and I regard it as a great honour and privilege to be Native Minister as well as Prime Minister. I have continue! to hold the portfolio of Native Affairs but owing to my absence from New Zealand to attend the Coronation and Imperial Conference and since my return, owing to pressure of other duties, I have been compelled to delegate to Mr. Langstone the actual labours attaching to the office and may I take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the splendid way in which he has carried them out." In surveying what the Labour Government had achieved in the field of native affairs over the past two and a half years, Mr. Savage said that the Maori was participating with the pakeha in the new prosperity which had been built up. The principal economic and social measures had benefited both races alike, whether it. be guaranteed prices, increased unemployment benefits, pensions, educational facilities and so on, but the Government had attempted to go further and would do still more with his co-operation to £ive the Maori full equality of treatment and possibly in some cases better treatment than was given to his European brethren. In that respect it was endeavouring to do what it thought was only just and fair. Mr. Savage added that the development of native lands with Government assistance was commenced in 1930 and the results obtained so far had been very inspiring. When the Government took office there were 76 schemes in active operation, comprising an area of 668,555 acres. After two years the number of schemes had increased to 126 and the area included in the schemes to 804,864 acres. The Prime Minister went on to deal with the substantial reduction in unemployment among the Maoris since the present Government had taken office and also the provision which had been made for them in the direction of housing. * He also reiterated his assurance given at Ngaruawahia last year that no major policy questions bearing on native grievances and claims would be linally decided without lirst consulting the representatives of the Maori race.